Keeping our children safe is a priority both inside and outside. Whether children are swimming at a home pool or in natural bodies of water, with friends or with family, water safety is always key. Two children 14 years and under die every day from drowning and it is the third leading cause of all deaths for children ages 1 to 4.

Learn to swim. Swimming lessons, even among toddlers and young children, can help protect them from drowning.

Learn CPR. CPR can help you save a child's life. Learn CPR and get recertified every two years.

Use the buddy system. Always swim with a buddy. Look for swimming sites that have lifeguards on duty whenever possible.

Do not use air-filled or foam toys as safety devices. Do not use toys such as "water wings", "noodles", or inner-tubes, instead of life jackets. While they may be fun, they are not designed as safety equipment.

Supervise your children. Supervise young children at all times around bathtubs, swimming pools, and natural bodies of water. When supervising kids near water, avoid distracting activities such as playing cards, reading books, or talking on the phone and always stay close enough the reach out and touch young children at all times.

Don't drink alcohol. Avoid alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing. Never drink when supervising children.

At home, Install 4-sided fencing. Install a four-sided pool fence, at least 4 feet high, that separates the house and play area from the pool area. Use self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward with latches that are out of the reach of children.

Clear the pool deck of toys. Immediately remove floats, balls and other toys from the pool and surrounding area after use. These toys may encourage children to enter the pool area unsupervised and potentially fall into the pool.

Around natural bodies of water: Know the local weather conditions! Avoid Swimming/boating whenever there are strong winds and thunder or lightening.

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Published 7/29/10